Happy Birthday, Culver City Patch!

I still remember the exact moment that I knew Culver City Patch was living, breathing and out on the web for all to see. It was a surreal moment; I was looking at a site that was completely mine, the evidence of a month of grueling work, blood, sweat and tears. And while I didn't throw a party at that moment, I remember breathing a sigh of relief, grabbing a latte and agreeing with myself that my shower-every-two-day schedule could now cease because the site was up. 

I expected hard work. I expected long hours. I expected lots of questions. I expected to be under the scrutiny of many as the community got good and comfortable with the new kid on the block. However, I didn't expect to completely fall in love with Culver City's people and opinion leaders, who have embraced me as one of their own, and chided me with great affection as I have made mistakes. As any other Culver City resident, I have enjoyed the city's wonderful provinciality as I attended and the , learned how to fly at , met its and badgered its employees. What can I say? I am hooked on Culver City.

I thank each and every person who has made my first year here absolutely unforgettable, and a special thank you to those who were especially patient with me as I placed phone call, after phone call, after...phone call. You know who you are.

I have said on more than one occasion that I am lucky to have Culver City as my Patch town, and I hold to that statement a year into the game. With an unrivaled and , a passionate army of , and school district employees, galore and a local government that didn't mind answering my litany of questions, how could I go wrong?

As always, email me about story ideas that you think are newsworthy. Otherwise, I look forward to many more happy moments in Culver City.